Discussion Group: Carbon Tax

In February this year the Australian government announced a tax on carbon pollution, to come into effect in July 2011. The tax will be levied on a limited number of companies, and will be replaced by a cap and trade system in around three to five years. The tax has proved to be controversial, with demonstrations both in favour and against it.

We'll talk through some of the issues surrounding the carbon tax, including how it will work, it's potential effect on households and the economy, and how the tax has been covered in the media.

If you'd like to do some reading before you come along, here are some resources:
* The ABC has a number of infographics that show key figures, effects on food prices, how carbon pricing works, which areas emissions will be cut from, effects on income and the economy,  Australia's current emission levels, and a short overview of different approaches to cutting emissions.
* The Australian government has released a site that will allow you to estimate the effects on your household. Why not try it out?
* The Drum's Ben Eltham takes a closer look at the main alternative being proposed: the Coalition's Direct Action Plan.
* In the wake of the government's announcement, different groups are trying to shape how Australians react: a new industry lobby group has been formed to oppose the tax, Crikey's Andrew Crook claims that the Daily Telegraph's coverage is biased, and GetUp! is trying to crowd source funding for their own ads.

Of course, you're also very welcome to show up without reading these resources, or to do reading of your own.

Meet us at the Moon Cafe at 5pm, Sunday 14th August. You can RSVP through the Facebook event page or just come along.

Practical Ethics

Hello all,

I'm new to your group, and I'm excited to get involved! Sky, Claire, and I are organizing monthly get togethers for ethical living. As someone who tries to live ethically, it sometimes gets very depressing to learn more about an issue (green travel? buying fairtrade food?) and discover that I've been Doing It All Wrong.

In order to focus on the positive things we can (and do!) do and the practical side of living ethically, we've created the group Practical Ethics to take field trips around the Perth region and encourage a more sustainable lifestyle for everyone who wants to feel nice about the things they're trying to change.

As the first in our Practical Ethics field trips, we're visiting the urban farm City Farm Saturday, 9 July at 9 am, located right behind the Claisebrook train station. We'll visit their mostly organic farmer's market and have a look at their organic growing practices and free range animals, then enjoy some snacks and discussion after. Please join us! If you are interested in coming, we've got a facebook group or you can get in touch with me, Sky, or Claire for more details!

Thanks!

Nancy

Activist Campaign Tools (ACT) Course

Katrina writes:
"Did you ever feel concerned about an issue but feel like you didn't have the skills or connections to do much about it?

If so ... the Activist Campaign Tools (ACT) Course may be for you!

Designed for all activists, campaigners or anyone inspired about an issue, ACT is an 8 week, low cost, skills training course.

Learn practical skills to transform your next campaign or increase career prospects in the environment and social justice sectors.

The course is run by a series of specialist facilitators and includes topics such as - Campaign Planning, Marketing and Media, Communication and Meeting Skills, Event Management and Fundraising, Law for Activists, Lobbying and Sustainable Activism.

All ages, experience levels and pet issues welcome and you don't need to be currently involved in a campaign to come along.

6.30-9pm, Tuesdays 8 Feb-29 March 2011
Earthwise Subiaco

$100 waged - $60 unwaged - Bookings essential - numbers limited!

For bookings and more information, e-mail katrina73 at iinet dot net dot au with any questions or to request a free brochure or see http://acttraining.webs.com."

10/10/10: An Invitation to a Global Work Party on Climate Change

350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building solutions to climate change. As they point out:
"It’s been a tough year: in North America, oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico; in Asia some of the highest temperatures ever recorded; in the Arctic, the fastest melting of sea ice ever seen; in Latin America, record rainfalls washing away whole mountainsides."

So they’re having a party:

"Circle 10/10/10 on your calendar. That’s the date. The place is wherever you live. And the point is to do something that will help deal with global warming in your city or community."

To find out more about 10/10/10, read the invitation.

There are events happening all around the world, including several in Perth. To find an event near you, go to this handy map!

Fundraising Iftar Dinner for Pakistani Flood Victims

This dinner has been organised by the Centre for Muslim States and Societies.

"As I am sure many of you are aware, recent floods in Pakistan have
caused a huge amount of damage in large areas of the country. It is
Pakistan's biggest-ever natural disaster and has left millions of
people homeless, with up to 6 million people requiring urgent food
aid. In order to raise money for the victims of the disaster, the
Centre for Muslim States and Societies, in collaboration with Tandoor
on Oxford, is organising a fund raising Iftar dinner.

Where: Tandoor on Oxford - 209 Oxford St Leederville
When: 5.30pm - 9.00pm, Sunday 22 August 2010
Cost: $13 - This includes a delicious subcontintenal dinner and soft
drinks

Additional donations will be collected, and raffles drawn, with the
proceeds going to the victims of the flood.

For further information, or to make reservations, please contact Ben
Clark email: bclarke@nd.edu.au or phone: 043 2755 010 or Natalia Saeed
CMSS email: cmss@uwa.edu.au or 6488 4554.

RSVP by Thursday 19 August 2010."

Food sovereignty: what's on your plate?

Slow Food Perth will join with Christ Church Grammar School’s ethics centre to present a forum entitled ‘Food sovereignty: what’s on your plate?’ at the school in Claremont on 24 August 2010.

The panel will include:

* priest Frank Sheehan, Christ Church Grammar School chaplain and senior canon of Perth’s St George’s Anglican Cathedral
* journalist Anthony Georgeff, editor of Spice magazine
* academic Felicity Newman, an author and lecturer in food and culture at Murdoch University’s Centre for Everyday Life
* farmer Annie Kavanagh, who raises berkshire pigs on organic principles at her Spencers Brook farm in the Avon Valley
* a Christ Church Grammar School senior student
* parliamentarian Max Trenorden, The Nationals’ leading Member for the Agricultural Region, and
* Kim Chance, former Labor minister for agriculture and food [2001-2008], now chairman of the Australian Landcare Council

The forum will discuss the ethics of farming and eating. Do we know what’s on our plate, who produced it, how it was produced, and whether it is local or imported, fresh and seasonal or from last year’s crop? Do we care, or do we just eat?

For more information, visit the Slow Food website.

Reminder: Food workshop on 16th June

Lifecycles: Food
16th June, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
The Edmund Rice Centre for Social Justice
24 High St, Fremantle

Are you an urban gardener? Do you care about animal rights? Do you want clearer labelling on food in the supermarket? Or perhaps you want to buy more ethical food, but don't know where to start? If you're already passionate about changing how we eat or just want to know more, Lifecycles: Food will give you a chance to learn, share, and develop some ideas for change that suit your interests and level of commitment.

The Bluestocking Institute's Lifecycles: Food workshop will build on The Politics of Food workshop by helping participants to share their knowledge and develop action plans around ethical and sustainable food production and consumption. The workshop will begin with a brief introduction outlining key issues and discussing methods for taking action on an individual and community level. We will then break into smaller groups in which participants can share ideas, either about issues that they already care about or about areas where they want to learn more. We'll finish with a short discussion period.

For more information or to RSVP:

• visit the Facebook event page at http://bit.ly/LifecyclesFood or
• email us at bluestocking@bluestockinginstitute.org.

Suggested donation $5

Upcoming Event: EcoFair

Lifecycles Workshop #1: Food

This year, the Bluestocking Institute's work will focus on the lifecycles of three different products: food, clothing, and electronics. In each workshop, speakers will give brief ideas on how to translate concerns into action. Participants will also be invited to take part in informal discussion.

The 'Food' workshop will include speakers (TBA) on a range of topics, including ethical grocery shopping, key food policy issues, and fair trade. Snacks will be provided.

Please RSVP on the event's Facebook page.

Cost: $5 waged/ gold coin donation unwaged.

----
Image courtesy of Flickr user Darwin Bell.

The Really Really Free Market

Last year's Really Really Free Market was great: it was a mix of workshops, kids running around, music, free food, stuff (musical instruments, old puzzles, clothes, furniture, even a car was being given away), and a lovely sense of community.

This year, there are four Really Really Free Markets planned, and the first is coming up soon:

REALLY REALLY FREE MARKET
3-6pm, Sunday 21 March
Stage Area, North Side of Hyde Park, North Perth.

Bring useful items that you no longer need or want to share freely with other members of your community.

Browse through the things others have brought and leave with what your family needs, regardless of whether you brought something or not.

Bring your talent and give something of yourself: music, poetry, storytelling, lessons.

Or bring your unique service or expertise to share with others: haircuts, painting, knitting, bicycle repairs etc.

Bring a gift of food and share in a picnic lunch with other friends and families from your community or share surplus produce from your garden.

www.rrfmperth.blogspot.com

World Vegan Day Picnic

Those of you who came to (or wanted to come to) the Politics of Food discussion group may want to attend World Vegan Day Picnic:

Tuesday, 13 October 2009 09:58

Join Animal Rights Advocates Inc. for a celebration of vegan food and culture on Sunday 1 November - World Vegan Day! 12-4pm, Sunday 1 November Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth

For more information, go to the Animal Rights Advocates website.

Guest Speakers, The Politics of Food

We currently have three speakers lined up for The Politics of Food. Each speaker will give a brief introduction to the issues they're concerned with, and participate in the discussion that follows. Our speakers are:

Lynn MacLaren, MLC, The Greens (WA)
Lynn's work spans a wide range of portfolios, including food and GMOs. She has recently been active in campaigning against changes to WA's agricultural policy which allow the introduction of GM crop trials.

Louise Edmonds, Coconvenor, Fremantle Environmental Resource Network
Louise will be speaking about her personal education surrounding the politics of food, including her experiences visiting farms in India and working with Dr Vandana Shiva. She will also give a brief introduction to FERN's work.

Sky Croeser, UWA, Bluestocking Institute
I will be giving a short guide to the complex relationship between our choices as consumers and the global structures of food production.

While each speaker will introduce some fascinating points for discussion, ultimately the evening depends on your participation. We hope that everyone who comes down will feel comfortable talking about their own experiences and areas of expertise, and asking questions of others. Hope to see you there!

Good, clean and fair: small, slow food in a big food nation

Those of you coming to our 'Politics of Food' event may also be interested in a talk the evening before by Carlo Petrini, organised by Slow Food Perth.

CARLO Petrini, Slow Food’s founder and international president, will deliver a free public lecture at the University of Western Australia during a one-day visit to Perth. Hear the man described by The Guardian as ‘one of the 50 people who could save the planet’ – and a Time European hero – talk about ‘good, clean and fair’ food and the challenges that face the world of food.

Date: 14th October, 2009
Time: 5:00pm for 5:15pm
Venue: MCS Lecture Theatre, University of Western Australia Crawley campus [nearest carpark No. 14, off Fairway, or along Myers Street]

Real Food Forum

Those of you who are interested in our 'Politics of Food' event may also want to attend the Real Food Forum, which has been organised by the Greens:

The Politics of Food: dinner and discussion

The next discussion in our Community Scholars programme will look at 'the Politics of Food'. It will be held on October 15th, from 6:30 until 8pm at the Edmund Rice Centre in Fremantle.

The Bluestocking Institute's Community Scholars Discussion Group brings together experts from inside and outside academia, encouraging cross-fertilisation across disciplines and between local, national, and global perspectives. Discussion Groups aim to develop dialogue in a relaxed atmosphere, and address issues of peace and justice.

'The Politics of Food' will be explore some of the ethical and political questions surrounding what we eat, how we eat, and how we produce food. These include:

* What is the role of food in bringing together communities, or holding them apart?
* How can we produce food ethically and sustainably?
* Can movements promoting 'slow food' and organic farming meet the needs of those on a low income?
* Can urban food production and community gardens help to feed the world?

We encourage people from all walks of life to join us for dinner and discussion. Whether you're involved in academia, activism, or just have a personal interest in the politics of food, you're welcome to join us. We encourage you to bring a plate to share, and to begin the discussion: are you vegetarian? Vegan? Do you try to 'eat local'? Do you have food that is important to your community? Are you too busy too cook?

Eating together has always been an important part of building communities: please help us to build a vibrant dialogue around the politics of what we eat.

You can join the discussion on the Facebook group, or stay tuned to this blog for readings and ideas for further discussion.

Global Studies seminar

Announcing a new seminar organised by the Australian Global Studies Research Centre

Debating the free market in an age of insecurity

Featured speakers include Professor Webster and Dr. Bezuidenhout, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Professor Lambert, UWA Business School, and Professorial Fellow Carmen Lawrence, UWA’s Institute of Advanced Studies.

When: Tuesday, 18 August 2009, 5:30-7:00pm
Where: Ernst & Young Lecture Theatre, UWA Business School, Crawley WA

Who Shapes Our Fears? David Marr Lecture

CASE for Refugees and CARAD Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees will be holding their annual community forum, with David Marr as their 2009 inaugural speaker.

Who Shapes our Fears?
The role governments, oppositions and the press play in alarming Australians about refugee boats.

DAVID MARR writes about politics, law and the arts for the Sydney Morning Herald. He has also
presented ABC TV’s Media Watch and written a number of books including a biography of Patrick White and (with his Herald colleague Marian Wilkinson) Dark Victory, an account of Australia’s blockade of refugee boats during the 2001 election campaign. Refugee issues have been a focus of his work for a number of years.

Monday 31 August 2009 6.30pm
Christ Church Grammar School
Centre for Ethics
Senior Common Room
Queenslea Drive, Claremont
Cost: Entry is by Donation

Bluestockings @ Barcamp

This Saturday Perth's 3rd BarCamp will be held at Central Tafe. BarCamps are "user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants", which have a history of focusing on technology but can also be adapted to other issues.

The only other BarCamp I've attended was Bangalore BarCamp 5, and it was great. I went to sessions on social technology, community mesh networks, blogging, and low-budget films, and met a heap of fascinating people.

I haven't been to a BarCamp in Perth yet, so I've no idea what to expect, or what to contribute. Hopefully some of you will come down and bring some ideas.

UPDATE: my post about BarCamp is up over at witty title pending.

Meltdown: How to save jobs and the environment

Lately, Bluestocking has been discussing projects that explore positive community responses to the economic crisis. Hopefully we'll have something in the works soon, but until then we're going to try to keep you abreast of other events and projects that explore the issue. Meltdown is a forum run by Perth's Socialist Alliance:



MELTDOWN
How to save jobs and the environment

The economic crisis sweeping the globe raises the spectre of mass unemployment on a scale we haven’t seen for a long time. Already people are losing their jobs in WA. At the same time we face an environmental emergency that demands urgent action.

This forum will discuss pro-worker and pro-environment solutions.

Speakers:
Sam Wainwright (Socialist Alliance candidate for Fremantle)
Adele Carles (Greens candidate for Fremantle)

6.30pm Wed April 22
Fremantle Education Centre
Cantonment St (next to Clancy's)
Entry by donation.
Ph 0412 751 508 or fremantle@socialist-alliance.org

Bluestocking at the Really Really Free Market

Do you care about climate change, human rights violations, local urban design, or other issues at the local or global level that relate to peace and justice? Do you feel overwhelmed and helpless? If you care about an issue, large or small, and want to find out what to do about it, come to the Really Really Free Market this Sunday and the Bluestocking Institute will help.

Come find our stall, tell us what you care about, and we'll work out how you can do something about it. We'll post links and possibilities on our blog.

And if that's not enough to convince you, we'll be giving away home-made cookies too.

When: Sunday 5 April 2009, 3-6pm
Where: Hyde Park, South West Cnr (Throssell and Glendower), Perth

A Really, Really Free Market is like a giant potluck made up of useable items, skills, ideas, smiles, talents, friendship, excitement, discussions, and many other things that we as a community can come together and share.

A RRFM is a 100% free and non-commercial event, organized by participants just like you.